DERBY BUILD-UP | CITY'S BUMPER CROWDS

31 March 2016

Connor Pearce

As we enter the home straight of the season with the Bluebirds pushing for a play-off spot, your support at Cardiff City Stadium is invaluable – and it’s been great to see so many fans meeting the boys at St. David’s Hall this week.

With our huge clash against Derby County on the weekend set to attract our biggest attendance of the season so far, we take a look at some record audiences throughout the history of the club.

CARDIFF CITY STADIUM

The Cardiff City record attendance at our current home came in our Premier League season of 2013/14. The biggest crowd of the campaign was 28,018 against Liverpool on March 22nd.

The Bluebirds fans were out in force, and in fine voice as well, as the game turned out to be a thriller, unfortunately ending 6-3 in favour of the Reds. City twice took the lead, with Jordon Mutch and Fraizer Campbell finding the back of the net in the first half. However, Luís Suarez was to score an impressive hat-trick and, along with a double from Martin Skrtel, and a strike from Sturridge, the Uruguayan’s goals won the points, and earned him the match ball. Mutch’s second of the match couldn’t earn the Bluebirds anything from the match, despite a valiant effort from the home team.

However, the stadium’s capacity has increased more recently, with the opening of the Upper Ninian Stand, bringing an even higher record attendance. 30,854 people saw Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale lift the UEFA Super Cup in August of 2014, after Real Madrid defeated Sevilla 2-0. Then in June 2015, Bale was the hero for Wales, after his goal in front of 33,280 spectators – the stadium record – helped defeat Belgium in a UEFA Euro 2016 Qualifier.

NINIAN PARK

Our former home also saw many memorable moments, with fans packing Ninian Park to it’s rafters on a number of occasions throughout its ninety-nine year history.

The record attendance at the stadium was 62,634, for a Wales vs England British Championships game in 1959. Jimmy Greaves had put England ahead, before Graham Moore’s 89th minute equaliser for the Dragons.

However, the record attendance for a Cardiff City home game came six years previously. In April 1953, 57,893 crammed into Ninian Park to watch Cyril Spiers’ men do battle with Arsenal. The score was 0-0, with City finishing twelfth in Division One that season. The Gunners went on to lift the League trophy, finishing above Preston North End on goal average.

Our final game on Sloper Road was in April 2009, against Ipswich Town. 19,129 watched the Bluebirds play on the hallowed turf for one final time, before moving across the road to Cardiff City Stadium.

FA CUP RECORD

Our most famous moment, the FA Cup Final of 1927, was watched live by 91,206 people at Wembley Stadium, as Hughie Ferguson’s strike won the Cup for Cardiff. However, as the 1927 Final was the first to be broadcasted live by the BBC, the game was listened to by thousands more people across the country.

The Club also holds a more recent Wembley record. The 2008 FA Cup Final between the Bluebirds and Portsmouth had an official attendance of 89,874 – the record attendance for a football match at the ‘new’ Wembley, beating two UEFA Champions League Finals and various other Cup finals and England internationals.

OTHER MEMORABLE MOMENTS

The official attendance for our Opening Ceremony Match versus Celtic at Cardiff City Stadium was 15,701, although our first League match in our new home was watched by 22,264. That 2009/10 season culminated with our Play-Off Semi Final victory over Leicester City, with 26,033 spectators watching.

Fast forward three years, to April 16th 2013. With a point securing promotion from the Championship, 26,338 fans watched in anticipation, and then celebrated a great achievement on the pitch after the 0-0 draw with Charlton Athletic.

Another classic Cardiff City match, the famous 2-1 win over Leeds in 2002, was seen by 22,009 fans at Ninian Park. 20,486 saw Nathan Blake’s screamer against Manchester City in 1993, whilst Brian Clark’s famous headed winner against Real Madrid in 1971 was watched by an estimated 50,000.

Remember, all those who buy 2016/17 Season Tickets are entitled to TWO free tickets for the Derby County match this Saturday! FIND OUT MORE HERE!